TWENTY-FIFTH ORDINARY SUNDAY
(Isaiah 55:6-9; Philippians 1:20-24,27; Matthew 20:1-16)
The readings today are fairly well-known. The first is part
of the fascinating chapter of the prophet Isaiah in which God describes his
word as rain bringing life to the earth. It is said that the gospel parable has
had the popularity of that of the Prodigal Son at certain times in history. And
the second reading of the Letter to the Philippians gives one of the most
intimate confessions of the apostle Paul. Let's leave it for another time to
reflect on the gospel through the optic of the prophet.
In one sense it is nothing new that the Lord's ways are
different from ours. After all, God is of a different order than us. In fact,
it is absurd to try to compare ourselves with God. He is not a being among
other beings like any other man or woman. He is the basis of all being.
Therefore, when we talk about God, we always speak in an analogical way, which
is to say, “something similar,” realizing that He is a mystery beyond our
understanding. It is like how we talk about our dog “loving us” when it lies at
our feet. Its display of affection in no way comes close to the love between a
man and a woman who have given themselves to one another in a faithful marriage.
Although we cannot come close to matching God’s goodness, Jesus still calls us
to be like Him. In the Sermon on the Mount, he tells his disciples: “Be perfect
as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
With both the distinction between God and us and the command
to imitate God in mind, we can examine the gospel. The story Jesus tells here
meets the classic definition of a parable as a tale taken from ordinary living
whose conclusion surprises in a way that causes the listener to reconsider his
life. Certainly upon hearing the parable of the “Good Samaritan,” the Jews had
to reconsider their attitude toward the Samaritans. The parable of “The Laborers
in the Vineyard” works in the same way. As much as the workers employed in the
early hours of the morning, we are surprised when they receive the same pay as
those who worked only one hour. But that's how God is - more generous than can
be imagined. He is not unfair to anyone. He pays those hired in the morning the
promised wage. But he has no qualms about treating others with great
generosity.
This parable has been used to understand how the Greeks
could inherit the Kingdom of God as much as the Jews who practiced the demands
of the Law for centuries. It can also be used to explain how some born in solid
families whose parents raised them with faith as well as love can have the same
fate as some who, due to deficiencies in their upbringing, struggled to live
just lives. However, the parable is open to another interpretation. It asks us
to treat everyone with God's generosity whether they deserve it or not.
In our house sometimes someone leaves their dirty dishes in
the sink. When I see them, I feel outraged because the person who left them
should realize that everyone has the responsibility to clean their own dishes.
This attitude is not necessarily unjust, but neither does it imitate God's
ways. Certainly the saints would clean other people's dishes. Saint Martin de
Porres, in fact, helped everyone, rich and poor, giving whatever he had without
measure. All of us are called to do likewise by our acceptance into God’s family.
Being generous like God will demand a lot from us. But it's
not impossible. With Jesus Christ as our model and companion we can fulfill the
mandate. Present to us in the community of faith, Jesus supports us in the
struggle. And in the Eucharist, he strengthens us to do hard things.
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